Sec. 15. (a) The executive committee, with the approval of two-thirds (2/3) of the judges, shall determine the number of judicial officers and personnel required to efficiently serve the court. The salaries of the personnel shall be fixed and paid as provided by law.
(b) The administrative officers shall perform the duties prescribed by the executive committee and shall operate under the jurisdiction of the executive committee and serve at the pleasure of the executive committee.
(c) The executive committee shall see that the court at all times is amply provided with adequate resources necessary to effectively run court operations. Each judge shall appoint a judicial assistant who will also serve as the judge's official court reporter. All other staff assignments will be determined by the executive committee in conjunction with the general term. The staffing requirements set forth in IC 33-29-1-5 do not apply to the Marion superior court. In addition to the specified duties of this subsection, the executive committee shall exercise any other powers and duties that may be assigned to the executive committee. At least once each month, a general term conference of all superior division judges should be held, at which the presiding judge shall preside. During an absence or a vacation of a judge who is a member of the executive committee, the senior superior court judge shall act for the absent member, if necessary.
(d) Notwithstanding any other law, a commissioner appointed under this chapter has all of the powers and duties prescribed for a magistrate under IC 33-23-5. However, the provisions of IC 33-23-5-11 requiring the state to pay the salary of a magistrate do not require the state to pay the salary of a commissioner appointed under this chapter.
(e) If a commissioner appointed under this chapter is appointed as a magistrate in Marion County, the salary of that magistrate shall be paid by the state under IC 33-23-5-11 in the same amount as other magistrates are paid.
(f) The allocation of appointments of commissioners under this chapter shall be determined by agreement between the judges of the superior court and the judge of the circuit court with consideration given to the case load of each court. However, notwithstanding any other law, at least two (2) of the commissioners appointed under this chapter shall be appointed by the judge of the circuit court.
(g) The:
(1) judge of the circuit court has exclusive authority to appoint commissioners allocated to the circuit court; and
(2) judges of the superior court have exclusive authority to appoint commissioners allocated to the superior court by a vote of the majority of the judges of the superior court.
(h) Not more than a simple majority of the commissioners appointed under this chapter may be from the same political party.
(i) A commissioner appointed by the:
(1) judge of the circuit court serves at the pleasure of the judge of the circuit court; and
(2) judges of the superior court continues in office until removed pursuant to local rule.
[Pre-2004 Recodification Citation: 33-5.1-2-10.]
As added by P.L.98-2004, SEC.12. Amended by P.L.71-2010, SEC.2; P.L.201-2011, SEC.76; P.L.106-2022, SEC.1.
Structure Indiana Code
Title 33. Courts and Court Officers
Article 33. Court System Organization in Each County
33-33-49-2. Judicial Circuit; Magistrate
33-33-49-3. "City-County Council" Defined
33-33-49-6. Establishment; Qualification of Judges; Residency
33-33-49-10. Court of Record; Force and Effect of Judgments, Decrees, and Orders
33-33-49-11. Power and Authority; Removal of Presiding Judge; Incidental Powers of Judges
33-33-49-12. Orders, Writs, Appointments, and Commissions
33-33-49-13.1. Marion County Judicial Selection Committee; Duties; Open Records
33-33-49-13.2. Term of Office; Retention Classes
33-33-49-13.3. Retention Procedures
33-33-49-13.4. Judicial Selection Committee Nomination Procedure
33-33-49-13.7. Recommendations Concerning Retention
33-33-49-14. Executive Committee; Divisions of Court
33-33-49-15. Powers and Duties of Executive Committee; Appointment and Powers of Commissioners
33-33-49-16. Judicial Officer; Probate Matters; Powers and Duties
33-33-49-17. Sessions of Court; Facilities
33-33-49-18. Books, Papers, and Records of Court
33-33-49-19. Single Order Book
33-33-49-20. Laws Applicable to Court
33-33-49-24. Transfer of Cases From Circuit Court
33-33-49-25. Transfer of Cases to Circuit Court
33-33-49-26. Authority of Circuit Judge to Sit in Superior Court
33-33-49-32. Appointment of Magistrates; Transfer of Proceeding Back to Judge